AS an adopted son of Pangasinan, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go met with approximately 1,300 barangay captains of the province led by Provincial Liga President Raul Sabangan during their Barangay Captains Day held at the Capitol Grounds in Lingayen, Pangasinan on Friday, December 13.
The event served as a significant platform for the senator to highlight the critical role of grassroots leadership in fostering progress and delivering efficient public service in communities.
Furthermore, to show his appreciation, Senator Go gave grocery packs, basketballs, volleyballs, shirts, shoes, mobile phones, bicycles, and watches to select recipients. The occasion was also attended by Governor Ramon Guico and Vice Governor Mark Lambino, among others.
In his address, Senator Go expressed his gratitude to the barangay officials for their unwavering commitment to their communities, especially during challenging times. “Kayo ang unang nilalapitan ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang pangangailangan. Saludo ako sa inyong dedikasyon at malasakit para sa kapwa,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of good governance and collaboration between barangay leaders and the national government, underscoring that unity is the foundation for lasting progress.
“As public servants, we share a common mission — to uplift the lives of our people and build stronger, more resilient communities,” the Senator stated.
“Bilang adopted son ng Pangasinan, hindi ko po kayo iiwan. Kasama po ninyo ako sa laban para sa mas maayos na serbisyo at mas maunlad na barangay,” he assured the attendees.
Senator Go filed Senate Bill No. 197, known as the Magna Carta for Barangays, which seeks to recognize the significant contributions of barangay officials by providing them with better support and resources. To further uplift health workers, Senator Go also filed SBN 427, which mandates allowances, incentives, job security, and other benefits for barangay health workers if enacted into law.
The senator also filed SBN 2802, a proposed measure aimed at setting the term of office for Barangay and SK officials to six years, a significant increase from the current three-year term, if passed.
Recognizing the need for modernization, Senator Go also introduced SBN 194, or the E-Governance Act, which aims to establish a comprehensive and integrated information-sharing network to enhance communication between national agencies and local government bodies.
“This will not only make government services more efficient but also empower our barangay leaders to better respond to the needs of their constituents,” Senator Go explained.
As Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, Go reminded local leaders to prioritize the health and well-being of their constituents.
Principally authored and sponsored by Go, RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, brings together medical assistance programs from concerned agencies to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. There are currently 166 Malasakit Centers nationwide and in Pangasinan, these are located at Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Rosales and Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.
Meanwhile, funding has been secured to establish over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary care to the grassroots, thanks to collaborative efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units. In Pangasinan alone, 26 such centers are being established.
Go is also the principal sponsor and one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers in existing DOH regional hospitals including in Pangasinan.
“Tandaan na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Magtulungan tayo na ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga nangangailangang Pilipino,” he said.
He concluded his speech by urging barangay captains to remain steadfast in their duties. “Ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos. Patuloy tayong magkaisa, magtulungan, at magmalasakit para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa. Hindi po kayo nag-iisa,” he said.
As part of his visit to Pangasinan, Senator Go also went to Calasiao, where he provided assistance to a thousand indigents and distributed Christmas gifts to daycare students as part of his commitment as Chairperson of the Senate Youth Committee.
